Dummy device behind Old Trafford 'bomb' scare

The Stretford End (L) and the Sir Alex Ferguson stand are seen empty after an evacuation ahead of the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on May 15, 2016 AFP/Oli Scarff

MANCHESTER: A fake bomb left behind following a training exercise was responsible for the abandonment of Sunday's (May 15) match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford, police said.

Amid a nerve-jangling scare with much of Europe on alert for militant attacks, the device was blown up by army bomb disposal experts after United's world-famous ground had been evacuated.

The "code red" alert was signalled by police just 20 minutes before the scheduled start of the game between United and Bournemouth.

A club employee found what was described as a mobile phone attached to gas pipes during a routine sweep of the northwest corner of Old Trafford, a source said.

Some players were already on the pitch warming up for the key game and had to be led away. "We're still in the dressing room, seems we'll be the last to leave. There's been nerves and tension," United midfielder Ander Herrera told Spanish radio.

Fans were taken out of the world famous 75,600 capacity stadium as military bomb disposal experts rushed to the scene. Police with dogs search the whole stadium while the package was blown up.

A sniffer dog works on the side of the pitch following the evacuation of Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north west England. (AFP/Oli Scarff)

"Bomb disposal experts carried out controlled explosion at Old Trafford on what is described as incredibly lifelike explosive device," Greater Manchester Police said on its Twitter account. They added: "Full assessment now concluded and found device wasn't viable."

Police said the bomb squad disposed of what is described as an "incredibly lifelike explosive device" but an assessment showed it was "not viable".

Manchester United tweeted five minutes after the match was supposed to kick off that a "suspect package was found in the North West Quadrant" and said police were inspecting. It later announced that the match was abandoned on police advice.

Bournemouth tweeted that the match was abandoned "due to safety fears", while Manchester police tweeted that the game "has been abandoned, fans are leaving the ground. Please avoid the area if possible."

Announcements were made on the public address system that security staff should invoke "operation red code".

Half of the stands at Old Trafford were evacuated and United later confirmed that a suspicious package had been discovered in the Stretford End stand.

Public address announcements instructed supporters in the South and East Stands - including the travelling contingent of Bournemouth fans - to remain in their seats before the game was called off.

The Premier League issued a statement, saying the match was abandoned as a last resort and that it would rearrange the fixture as soon as possible.

Army specialists were called and police later announced that "a controlled explosion has just been carried out within the stadium by bomb disposal experts at Old Trafford".

SECOND INCIDENT

It is the second time in less than a week that United have been involved in a security alert. Their game at West Ham United on Tuesday was delayed after their team bus was attacked by home fans.

More than two hours after the game was abandoned, a ring of police and stewards still had the stadium cordoned off. Traffic in all directions around the stadium was gridlocked.

It was a dramatic end to a day in which United supporters had hoped to see their team win and finish in fourth place.

But, with all other fixtures kicking off as planned, Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Swansea City meant United, barring a freakishly huge win over Bournemouth when Sunday's abandoned fixture is played, would miss out on qualification for next season's Champions League.

LOGISTICAL PROBLEM

Officials told Bournemouth players and management that they could return home as there was no possibility of the game being played within 24 hours of Sunday's abandoned fixture, but they will now be back at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

"Manchester United treated us very well," Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the Bournemouth Echo. "We decided to come back to Bournemouth because there was no sign of the game being played the next day."

Sunday's abandonment was especially disappointing for Moses, a United fan from Sierra Leone, who had been hoping to watch his first match at Old Trafford.

But members of the Manchester United Supporters Trust, hearing of his plight, clubbed together to pay for him to stay another week in England and attend next week's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

"Sadly they postponed the match - I was so sad about that - but they organised so I can stay another week and I'm excited about that!," Moses told the BBC.

Although Bournemouth are safe from the threat of relegation and cannot qualify for Europe, Sunday's match had significance for the Cherries.

Bournemouth, still in 16th place, were looking to complete a league double over United, with the amount of prize money they receive dependent on where they finish in the table.

English Premier League results:

Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0

Chelsea 1 Leicester 1

Everton 3 Norwich 0

Newcastle 5 Tottenham 1

Southampton 4 Crystal Palace 1

Stoke 2 West Ham 1

Swansea 1 Manchester City 1

Watford 2 Sunderland 2

West Brom 1 Liverpool 1

Manchester Utd vs Bournemouth – match abandoned